Pipe coupling



E. M. DONS ET AL PIPE COUPLING Dec. 7, 1948.

s She'ts-Sheet 1 Filed Sept. 17, 1945 m. mm

mm mm hm mm INVENTORS E. M. DO N s J. V STEVENS mag NW1 ATTORNEYS BYm Dec. 7, 1948 E; M. DoN ET AL PIPE COUPLING 3 Sheets-Sheet Filed Sept. 17, 1 945 Ill/l F k G 5 INVENTORS E. M. DONS 'J. V. STEVENS BY -"6% 51 WIW.

ATTORNEYS Dec. 7, 1948. E. M. DONS ET AL 2,455,558

- PIPE COUPLING 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed Sept. 1'7, 19 45 mm mm INVENTORS E. M. 00 N s J. V. STEVENS Patented Dec. 7, 1948 23455558 i irmnoournme wlipllcatiomseptember 17, 1945, Serial No. 616,744

This invention relates to pipe; ebuplihgs,Leind more particularly ate a w coupling .guence hating special adyantages when it? becomes necessary. to nquiclgiy close eom znunioe't'ion-lbtweenn "we; connested pipes. 1

(Prior to this-invention,iotdinerwiflanges have been commonly employed toconnect the eridsl 5: adjacent pipes; s Aneei ies of bol'tsususmy extendsthr ough r th'e 'fianges lto itig htenla geisket between theiienges. JIt is quite maize) release the semesof bdlts endiinsef tte' fiblindhelosure member between said jlfiange's, eso --a.sj o communication betweenlith e "connected? pipes.

-iHowever-,l thi s rorzi'ineriy aetihe isaawexyrislow (procedure 'invelying releases of. L m- }siye-nuts equelly epac'ed ai'ound the circular flanges, and in 1 some \case ."theiilpibes. Jie l'lbelow the surface-of. the .sgmuna mhe're- 'thelonii'ts Qare not; positioned i'to re'civ wrench. eilnoether oases, even hu herewelll'lof'lthe lnfit'smereekposd, {there is a unexpected denfand tibr immaiate Closing of a conneetion-vibetweenitwapipes.

- An. o'bje't'lt Eh Di'ESilfiifiV' iition Ii to. avbid delay Jlcjs'ihg a, ceupimgibetween twbjihipe's, "at 'the same'tim'e eneilili'n'g theepereito "tovery eonvenientlywperform' his coupling gues below the set Y 'With the fdf'gb'ihgifi the invention co'mpi'lses tion and arrangement-or detitilsihel'in shown 3 enn-on. 'However,iimsftwbe understood thett the sco e "of "the inventiomextenhs tewriations and modifications described by cleiime hereufito appended.

tziif'vi'ew t e eperainp Fig; 9 is-re: uewiwiew ve versible clesure I-fieihh Wm 's 'cmmls. (011251-467) M c'ifie etails in the. description, we will expedite "the eontmueu description as follows:

2 an inverted-position, and aitgasket facing the 'closure.

i. 11 is aJsecti'onion" the line ll--| I; in- Fig. 10, showing-gasketset opposite sides ofthereversible closure member. p

"'To illustrate one. form of the invention we have shown; a pipe coupling comprising .etbdtm'h't mehib'ersl2 and I 3" to be funited'with the members "I 2 and 1 Tmeiy beinthe form efffianges formed integral with and extending fromVintevn'ally' threadedsleeves *M' '"and' i115, i'espe'dtii ely.

pipes W and [8, Land" an extended 'elosure (porspaoeb'etween the "pipes flfl 'can. merely release? and invert the 'closure Iq :to prevent? communication between *the pipes when thetfienges I 2 and "I 3" are forced toward f each other.

Of course, suitable gaskets are anqainged alt with openings 23, removably *seatedat opposite removing and restoring the geis'kets.

"In-"addition to the foregoing unique details,

"the invention extends to novel ooo'pereiti-ve' con-- 45" "mentsy m and-l3 is-foroed toward the otherg e'o as to provide for raipid opening and closing 6f the pipe coupling.

Beeiring *in mind that scope of the 'p dt'ent is to eterniined by its olaim's, "and not by spe- A housing 24, in the form of a, cylinderlsurripheral screw threads of the flange l2, as shown in Figures 2 and 3, thereby removably securingthe cylindrical housing to the flange It. The other end of the cylinder 24 has an inturned abutment 25 removably confining the flange R3 in an area between the flange l2 and the inturned abutment 25. In this specific form of the invention, an oscillatory ring 26 surrounds the sleeve l5 of the flange 13. This ring 26 is directly between the flange l3 and the inturned abutment 25. provided with anti-friction material 2! at its inner face where the ring is in contact with-the sleeve 45, and this anti-friction material is preferably extended, as shown in Figures 2, 3 and -'1 to contact with the inner face of the abutment Said oscillatory ring 23 may be To illustrate a suitable means for forcing one of the coupling flanges toward the other cou' pling flange, We have shown cams 28 extending from the flange I3 and cams 29 extending from the ring 26 in contact with the cams28 to force the flange l3 toward the flange I2 in response to an arcuate movement of the oscillatory ring 26.

The cylinder 24 has a peripheral slot 30 (Fig. 2) in a plane between the flanges l2 and I3, and the elongatedclosure member I9, with its gaskets 22, is removably located in said slot 33 to provide for selective opening and closing of the pipe connectlon.

When the operating ring 26 is moved to tighten the gaskets 22, the pipe connection is .sealed. However, a reverse movement of said ring will enable the flanges l2 and 13 to be separated from each other as shown in Fig. 2, thereby releasing the closure l9 and its gaskets 22. The closure I!) can then be removed and inverted to closethe pipe connection when the operating ring 26 is moved to again tighten the pipe connection. Figure 9 shows the closure member H3 in its normal open position. Figure 10 shows said closure I 9 in an inverted position wherein it prevents communication between the connected pipes.

To illustrate a suitable means for operatin the ring 26, be have shown an operating arm 3| extending from said ring, an operating screw 32 having a bifurcated lower end 33 (Figures 1 and 3) embracing said operating arm 3|, a detachable pivot pin 34 connecting the bifurcated end 33 to the arm 3|, and. an operating nut 35 near the top of said screw 32 to actuate said ring 26, as shown in Fig. 1. I

The housing has an extension 36 (Figures 1 and 3) provided with an opening at the top to receive the operating screw 32 and a concave seat 31 surrounding said opening. A washer 38 is interposed between the bottom of the nut 35 and said concave seat, as shown in Fig. 1, said washer having a convex bottom face contacting with said concave seat to provide for free oscillatory movements of the screw 32.

The exposed operating nut 35 can be forcibly tightened on the operating screw 32 to provide for forcible tightening movements of the operating ring 26, thereby clamping the reversible closure member l9 and its gaskets 22 between the abutment flanges l2 and I3.

An abutment cap 39 (Fig. l) is screwed onto the top of the operating screw 32 to receive hammer blows which may be required for downward movements of said screw in releasing the operating ring.

Other details include guide ribs 40 parallel with the axis of the cylinder 24, as shown in Figures 1 and 2. These guide ribs 40 extend into 4 notches or grooves at the periphery of the flange I3, so as to prevent rotary motion of said flange independently of the cylinder 24, while allowing the flange [3 to slide in a direction parallel with the axis of the cylinder. Said ribs 40 may be at the inner ends of plugs 4|, as shown in Fig. 1.

A very common type of pipe couplings includes a sealing gasket between apair oi flanges, and bolts or other devices to-Eforce the flanges toward each other. However, under some conditions, the release of connections which normally force the flanges toward each other will fail to release the coupling. Expansion of the pipes and other conditions may tend to very forcibly retain the coupling flanges in contact with the interposed gasket when the operator desires to separate the coupling flanges. 'This occurs in ordinary pipe work, and it is a source of special trouble when the object is to immediately overcome some unexpected danger by placing a closure between two connectedpipes.

As a sieparate anddistinct feature, the present invention includes a desirable means for quickly separating a pair of such flanges. A specific example appears in Fig. 3 where there are two coupling flanges l2 and l3, with gaskets 22 as sealing membersbetween the flanges. In this specific form of the invention the flange I2 is threaded to receive screws '42 which extend through said flange. Each screw 42 has an exposed operating head 43 at its outer endfand an abutment 44 at its inner end movable toward the companion flange l3 and adapted to contact with'said flange I3, asto forcibly separate said flanges; Rotary moyementsoff the screws 42 in'Fig. 3 will quickly separate the fl a'nges, and if desired, a suitable closure can then be immediately placed between the flanges, For example, the closure) may be quickly inverted to the position shown in Fig. 10.

The screws 42 inFig. 3 lie beyond opposite sides of the closure'llll and its gaskets 22, and said screws are normally withdrawn as shown in Fig. 3 to positions wherein they will not in any way interfere with the usual coupling'and uncoupling operationaj r 4 l, 1

Fig. 2 includes a removable set screw 45 threaded through lthejcylindricalhousing 24 and extending into the flange i2, so as to normally anchor said flange to the housing. 4

The special plug 50 in Figures 1 and 2 provides for admission of lubricant, while the simple plug 5| at the bottom isremovablefor drainage of the used lubricant. i

We claim:

l. A pipe coupling comprising a pairof sleeves having internal screw threads to receive the ends of pipes to be' coupledeach threaded sleeve being provided with a peripheral flange located adjacent to and facing. the fla nge of its companion sleeve, a housing surrounding the flanges, one end of said housing being rigidly secured to one of said flanges, .theotherendof said housing having an inturned abutment confining the other flange, an oscillatory-operating ring surrounding the sleeve of the last mentioned flange,.said ring being directly between the last mentioned flange and said inturned'abutment, cam members carried by. the operating ring to force said last mentioned flange. toward the other flange in response to an arcuate movement of; said oscillatory operating ring, said-housing having a slot ina plane between said flanges, a closure member movable into and out; of said slot to provide for selective opening, and closingof the pipe connection; and

an operating member extending from said opera: atlngi saidivoperatingimembembeingliexpnsedt arrthe exteriorr otisaidinousing2:1

Zf- Ail-pipe wcouplin'gl comprising a vpair'sor sleevesi tonreceive the ends-orpipes'itmbe eouplect e chr sleevel beingz provided withs; an peripheral, flange;

locatedtadiacent to -andiflfacinglthez.- flange otiitst:

companionl sleeve" housing surrounding-whe flanges; one end otsaid housing being removablyl secured to oneof said- 'flanges;- the: other endi of: i

oamsibetweem-saidiilast:mentionedlflange andvthe in fiavinglam-inturncdlabutment confiningithe' operatingring to force semi-last mentlonedilnangei toward the other flangeimresponse to an arcuate movenient oftsaidoscillatory operating: ring, said: housing having a slot in a plane betweerrt saidl flange closurember movable into and out of sai 10etb-pro-vldb for selective opening and closing of the pipe connection, and an operating member connectedto said opera-ting ring, said operatingmemberebelngreigposed -atzthezexterior of saidhousing. i f y 3. A pipe coupling. comprising. apairof sleeves having internal screw threads to receive the ends of pipesito be coupled, eachrthreaded sleeve'iber-l 'ln'gl lprbVided, with a periph eraleflange locatediarh jacent to [and ,f-a-cingthe. flangeiofl'its companion sleeve, 1 a housing, ,surroundingwathe flangessltone end of said housing being remova'bly screwed onto one of said flanges, the other end of said housing having an inturned abutment confining the other flange, an oscillatory operating ring surrounding the sleeve of thelast mentionedflange, said ring being directly between the last mentioned flange and said inturned abutment, cams between said last mentioned flange and the operating ring to force said last mentioned flange toward the other flange in response to an arcuate movement of said oscillatory operating ring, said housing having a peripheral slot in a plane between saidflanges, a closure member movable into and out of said slot to provide for selective opening and closing of the pipe connection, an operating screw pivotally connected to said operating ring, said housing having an opening to receive an extended end of said operating screw and a seat around said opening, and an operating nut screwed onto said extended end to forcibly tighten said oscillatory operating ring.

4. A pipe coupling comprising a pair of sleeves to receive the ends of pipes to be coupled, each sleeve being provided with a peripheral flange located adjacent to and facing the flangeof its companion sleeve, one of the flanges having peripheral screw threads, a housing comprising a cylinder surrounding the flanges, one end of said cylinder being internally threaded and removably screwed onto said peripheral screw threads, the other end of said cylinder having an inturned abutment confining the other flange, an oscillatory operating ring surrounding the sleeve of the last mentioned flange, said ring being directly between the last mentioned flange and said inturned abutment, camming members extending from the operating ring to force said last mentioned flange toward the other flange in response to an arcuate movement of said oscillatory ring, said cylinder having a peripheral slot in a plane between said flanges, a closure member movable into and. out of said slot to provide for selective opening and closing of the pipe connection, an operatingscrew pivotally connected to said operating ring, said housingrhavingrarropening to receive: said operate ing: screw; and'xanl operating nut; located on: said; screw rattan areal outside ohsaicl housing to: pr-0* v-ldeiror forcible tightening movements oitheaop 5ft Al.pipeiscoupling:comprising a pair of sleeves to receiveithefends of p pes to. be coupled, each sleeve being providediwith a peripheral flangeilos catedlad'jacentstoandsfacing the flange of its coma named-sleeve, onelof the flanges having; peripherall screw threads, h'ousingi surrounding the flanges, one endl'of ilsaid housingzbein-g internally threaded andfi removablyr screwed onto. said peplieralifserew threads; thetother end-of. said hous othentflange ans-noscillat'ory operating, ring, sure roundinglth'e sleeveioii the. last mentioned l flanga, saidv ringz-beingr, directly: between the=last men's tionedrflanger andt saidx inturned abutment; cams menterrding fronrisaidrlast"mentioned flange and camss; extending-strum the operating; ring in cons ta-ctr with; thewc'ams of: said flange "to forcesaid l-astzrementioned': flange'towardthe other flange in response toean!arcuatemovement of said OSCiHa-I torysringasaidvhousing having anopening? in a plane abetweemsaidrflanges; a closure member movablerinto -and out of i said opening to provide foryselectiveopening andclosing of ,the pipe con,- nection, ianoperatin'g screw pivotally oonneotedto said operating ring, said housing also havingan extension-provided with-an opening; at the top; to receive said operating screw and a seat at the top of said extension, an operating nut located on said screw at an area directly above said seat to provide for forcible tightening movements of the operating ring, the operating nut being movable to release the tightened operating ring, and means for forcibly separating said flanges, said means comprising screws carried by the peripherally threaded flange and having inner ends movable toward the companion flange, so as to forcibly separate said flanges.

6. A pipe coupling comprising a pair of sleeves to receive the ends of pipes to be coupled, each sleeve being provided with a peripheral flange located adjacent to and facing the flange of its companion sleeve, one of the flanges having pe-- ripheral screw threads, a housing comprising a cylinder surrounding the flanges, one end of said cylinder being internally threaded and removably screwed onto said peripheral screw threads, the other end of said cylinder having an inturned abutment confining the other flange, an oscillatory operating ring surrounding the sleeve of the last, mentioned flange, said ring being directly between the last mentioned flange and said inturned abutment, cams extending from said last mentioned flange and cams extending from the operating ring in contact with the cams of said flange to force said last mentioned flange toward the other flange in response to an arcuate movement of said oscillatory ring, said cylinder having a peripheral slot in a plane between said flanges, a closure member movable into and out of said slot to provide for selective opening and closing of the pipe connection, an operating screw pivotally connected to said operating ring, said housing having an extension provided with an opening at the top to receive said operating screw and a seat at the top of said extension, an operating nut located on said screw at an area di-' rectly above said seat to provide for forcible tightening movements of the operating ring, said screw being provided with an abutment cap screwed onto its upper end to receive hammer blows in releasing said operating ring, said cylinder having internal guide ribs parallel with its axis, and said last mentioned flange being provided with peripheral notches to slidably receive said guide ribs, thereby preventing rotary displacement at said guide ribs, the operating nut being movable to release the tightened operating ring, and means for forcibly separating said flanges, said means comprising screws carried by the peripherally threaded flange and having inner ends movable toward the companion flange, so as to forcibly separate said flanges.

7. A pipe coupling comprising abutment flanges to be united with the ends of pipes to be-coupled, a housing surrounding said abutment flanges, one of said flanges being slidable in the housing, an oscillatory cam ring confined in said housing directly between said slidable flange and a wall of the housing, said confined oscillatory cam ring having side cam members to positively force the slidable flange toward the other flange in response to an arcuate movement of said ring, said housing having a peripheral opening in a plane between said abutment flanges, a closure member movable into and out of said opening to provide a detachable seal between the abutment flanges, and operating means extending from saidbonfined oscillatory cam ring, said operating means including an operating member exposed at the exterior of said housing.

8. A pipe coupling comprising abutment flanges to be united with the ends of pipes to be coupled, a housing surrounding said abutmentflanges, one of said flanges being fixed to the housing and provided with screws to forcibly separate the flanges, the other abutment flange being slidable in the housing, an oscillatory cam ringv confined in said housing directly between said slidable flange'and a wall of the housing, said confined oscillatory cam ring having laterally extended side cam members to positively forcethe slidable flange toward the companion fixed flange in response-to an arcuate movement of said ring, said housing having a peripheral opening in a plane betweensaid abutment flanges, a closure member movable into and out of said opening to provide a detachable seal between the abutment flanges, and operating means extending-from said con fined oscillatory cam ring to the exterior of said housing.

EDDIE M. DONS. JESSE V. STEVENS.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Hamer Oct. 16, 1945 

